sex

Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

n. The property or quality by which organisms are classified as female or male on the basis of their reproductive organs and functions.

n. Either of the two divisions, designated female and male, of this classification.

n. Females or males considered as a group.

n. The condition or character of being female or male; the physiological, functional, and psychological differences that distinguish the female and the male. See Usage Note at gender.

n. The sexual urge or instinct as it manifests itself in behavior.

n. Sexual intercourse.

n. The genitals.

transitive v. To determine the sex of (an organism).

transitive v. Slang To arouse sexually. Often used with up.

transitive v. Slang To increase the appeal or attractiveness of. Often used with up.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

n. Either of two main divisions (either female or male) into which many organisms can be placed, according to reproductive function or organs.

n. The distinguishing property, quality, or assemblage of properties by which organisms are classified as female or male on the basis of their reproductive organs and functions; the set of properties by which male is distinguished from female.

n. Sexual intercourse; the act of sexual intercourse.

n. Genitalia; a penis or vagina.

n. Women; womankind.

v. To determine the biological sex of an animal.

v. To have sex with.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

n. The distinguishing peculiarity of male or female in both animals and plants; the physical difference between male and female; the assemblage of properties or qualities by which male is distinguished from female.

n. One of the two divisions of organic beings formed on the distinction of male and female.

n.

n. The capability in plants of fertilizing or of being fertilized.

n. One of the groups founded on this distinction.

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

To ascertain the sex of (a specimen of natural history); mark or label as male or female.

n. The character of being either male or female; the anatomical and physiological distinction between male and female, evidenced by the physical character of their generative organs, and the part taken by each in the function of reproduction; gender, with reference to living organisms.

n. Either one of the two kinds of beings, male and female, which are distinguished by sex; males or females, collectively considered and contrasted.

n. Especially, the female sex; womankind, by way of emphasis: generally with the definite article.

n. In botany, the character or structure of plants which corresponds to sex in animals, there being, except in the lowest orders, a clear differentiation of male and female elements.

n. either of the two categories (male or female) into which most organisms are divided

n. the properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles

n. activities associated with sexual intercourse

v. stimulate sexually

v. tell the sex (of young chickens)

n. all of the feelings resulting from the urge to gratify sexual impulses

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

Middle English, from Latin sexus.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English sexe, from Old French sexe, from Latin sexus ("gender"). Thought to be connected with Latin seco, secare ("divide, cut") by the concept of division, or 'half' of the race. Akin to section. Meaning "sexual intercourse" first attested 1929 (in writings of D.H. Lawrence).

Examples

If the immutable character of sex is contested, perhaps this construct called ˜sex™ is as culturally constructed as gender; indeed, perhaps it was always already gender, with the consequence that the distinction between sex and gender turns out to be no distinction at all.

It is only the man whose intellect is clouded by his sexual instinct that could give that stunted, narrow-shouldered, broad-hipped, and short-legged race the name of _the fair sex_; for the entire beauty of the sex is based on this instinct.

February 18, 2009 at 12:26 pm 1. Internet Pornography 2. Illegal downloading of music 3. Ignorance 4. Myself 5. Depression (well mostly, still working on it, seems to take a different form these days) 6. The Devil (still working on him too lol) 7. Loneliness 8. Pre-marital sex 9. Internet ’sex’ and ‘relationships’ (don’t ask)

I do wish he'd get over the constant-sex thing, because, number one, sex is private and he doesn't need to share, and, number two, not everyone engages in sex as it's messy, and, as I've been told, may involve nudity.

The sooner we stop using the expression "sex crimes", the sooner will we be able to address the stark fact that these are acts of violence which hijack the sexual organs for the purpose of the humiliation and violation.